There are so many good places in and around Athens to eat, drink, shop, take a class, meet people, improve your mind, body and attitude, that to call some Favorites could be considered crazy. Who’s to say who are the Favorites? Well, who but Flagpole’s readers? Who but Flagpole readers get around town and know what’s going on? Who but Flagpole readers keep up with the best places to go to get what they need and want? We decided that the only way we could possibly come up with a list of Favorites is to let Flagpole readers vote on them, and they did. Over 3,000 Flagpole readers cast their votes for their Favorite local places, services and products, and here are the results.

This year’s Flagpole Reader Picks determine the 2012 Athens Favorites, and we congratulate this year’s Picks. To be the Favorites among so many outstanding candidates is indeed an honor, and it is also an incentive for next year, when a fresh round of voting will determine a whole new crop of Favorites. This year’s Favorites get a plaque and a door sticker to let their customers know who they are.

Thanks again to everybody who participated. Special thanks to photographers Cindy Jerrell and Carlo Nasisse, model and former pound puppy Gigi, interns Amy Chmielewski and Fiona Nolan, Allgood Lounge and the Flagpole staff.

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